Abstract
Chaetochromin A and related bis (naphtho-γ-pyrone) mycotoxins, cephalochromin and ustilaginoidin A, were examined for the injuring effects on mitochondrial respiration by using isolated rat liver mitochondria to gain insight into the molecular mechanism for their in vivo toxicity. These three mycotoxins were revealed to inhibit the ATP synthesis in mitochondria by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation and depressing state 3 respriration of mitochondria, which may be closely concerned in their cytotoxicity and in vivo toxicity to animals. The correlation between the uncoupling effect of chaetochromin A and its induction of mitochondrial swelling is discussed.
